Lock for firearm triggers



June 3, 1952 E. w. sAss LOCK FOR FIREARM TRIGGERS Filed April 15, 1950 Elmer W. Sass IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED s 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in looking attachments for firearms, and the principal object of the invention is to prevent actuation of the trigger such as could cause the firearm to be accidentally or unintentionally discharged.

This object is achieved by the provision of the instant device which, in the nature of an attachment, may be applied to the trigger guard of the firearm and be locked in position thereon, so as to completely enclose the guard as well as the trigger therein and thereby render the trigger inaccessible.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its depend ability, and in its adaptability for use on firearms of difierent sizes and types.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the inven- I tion applied to a firearm;

Figure 2 is an underside plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure l but with the lock mechanism removed;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the locking member used in the invention;

Figure 6 is a group perspective view of the key actuated lock cylinder and retainer, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 1-1 in Figure 4.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a looking attachment for firearms, which attachment is designated generally by the reference character l0 and is adapted to be positioned on and completely enclose a trigger guard l2 of a firearm 14.

The attachment l0 embodies in its construction a housing l6 which is provided with a receptacle l8 for the reception of the trigger guard I 2 as is best shown in Figure 3, while a lock chamber 20 is provided in a cylindrical, integral extension 22 01' the housing It and communi- 2 cates with the receptacle l8 through the medium of an elongated opening 24.

A locking member 23. configurated as is bes shown in Figure 5, is provided intermediate the ends thereof with a pair of laterally projecting trunnions 28 whereby it is pivotally mounted in the opening 24 so that the relatively short end portion 30 of the locking member is disposed in the chamber 20 while the relatively long end portion 32 of the locking member may be projected from the opening 24 into the receptacle l8 to engage the trigger guard as shown in Figure 3, thus sustaining the entire device in position on the trigger guard.

The member 26 is urged to this locked position by a compression spring 34 which is disposed in the chamber 30 and engages a seat 36 provided on the short end portion 30 of the member 26, substantially as shown.

A conventional lock cylinder unit designated generally by the reference character 38 is slidably and rotatably positioned in the chamber 20, the unit 38 being actuated by a suitable key 40 and including a set of projectible and retractible tumblers 42.

It is to be noted that the extension 22 of the housing I6 is recessed as at 44 so as to provide a step or shoulder 46 intermediate the ends of the chamber 20, while the inner end portion of the lock cylinder unit 38 is sectionally reduced so as to afford what may be called an adapter 48. The spring 34 urges the short end portion 30 of the locking member 26 in engagement with the adapter 48, it being noted that when the lock cylinder 38 is in its outwardly slid position as shown in Figure 3, the locking member 26 has the long end portion 32 thereof in engagement with the trigger guard l2. However, by sliding the locking unit 38 inwardly, that is, in the direction of the arrow 50, the adapter 48, engaging the portion 30 of the locking member 26, will swing the locking member about the trunnions 28 in the direction of the arrow 52, so as to retract the member portion 32 into the opening 24 and facilitate removal of the entire device from the trigger guard.

When the device is looked as shown in Figure 3, that is, with the lock cylinder 38 in its outwardly slid position, the lock cylinder may be rotated so that the adapter 48 thereof engages the shoulder 46 and thus prevents the lock cylinder from being slid inwardly. Rotation of the k y er, in turn, is prevented by providing the housing extension 22 with a groove 54 into 3 which the tumblers 42 of the lock cylinder may be projected by the actuation of the key 40.

The lock cylinder 38 is slidably and rotatably sustained in the chamber 20 by a retainer 58 which includes an annular portion 60 and a pair of spaced resilient legs 62. The portion 60 is positioned on the cylinder 38 between an enlarged head portion 64 of the latter and the tumblers 42, while the legs 62 are disposed in a pair of grooves 66 provided in the chamber 20 at the opposite sides of the opening 24. The portion 60 is seated in a counterbore 68 provided at the outer end of the chamber 20, which counterbore also accommodates a keeper plate 70- to sustain the retainer 58 in position. After the plate 10 is installed the extension 22 of the housme I6 is peened as indicated at 12 to prevent displacement of the plate.

It is believed that the advantages and 8&40]? the invention will be clearly apparent from the foregoingdisclosure and accordingly, further description at this pointisdeemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there hasbeen shown and-describedthe preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement'of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scopeo-f the invention asclaimed.

Having. described the invention, what is claimedas new is:

1'. In a locking attachment for preventing actuation of a trigger in the trigger guard ofa firearm, the combination of a housingnaifording a receptaclefor. atrigger guard andprovided with a. lock chamber. andwith anopeningextending between said chamber. and the interior. of said receptacle, an elongated locking member pivoted intermediate the ends thereof: in said opening, saidlocking member having a relatively; short end portion disposed in said chamber and a relativelylong end portion projecting from said opening, intosaidreceptacle to engage the stated .4 guard and retain said housing in position thereon, resilient means for projecting the long end portion of said member into the receptacle, said housing being recessed to aiford a shoulder intermediate the ends of said chamber, and a key-actuated lock cylinder rotatable and slidable in said chamber and having an inner end provided with a sectionally reduced adapter in operative engagement with the short end portion of said locking member whereby the long end portion of said member maybe retracted from said receptacle into said opening when said lock cylinder is slid in said chamber to a position wherein said adapter is disposed inwardly of said shoulder, said adapter being engageable with said shoulder upon outward sliding and rotation of said cylinder to-prevent the latter from sliding inwardly.

2'. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises a compression spring provided in saidchamber and abutting the short end portion of saidlocking member.

ELMER W; SASS.

REFERENCES CITED;

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

